And the triggered was pulled

Adams family

Ugh. A trade like that forces you to take a couple of hours to digest it all.

Not that Mike Adams is a Texas Ranger.

But that Rob Erlin and Joe Wieland will probably not be.

I have zero problem with Adams outside of maybe him being 33 and that his new team severely overpaid for him.

To get Adams or his former teammate Heath Bell, the Rangers were probably going to have to give up Erlin or Wieland. The thought of both Erlin and Wieland going seemed ... otherworldly.

Then it happened.

Here is what we know on an academic level:

1. Adams is a very good relief pitcher. He is under contract for 2012. He is 33.

2. Wieland and Erlin are extremely good, young prospects. It's not that they have amazing arms or anything. They use their brains. They throw strikes and they know how to pitch. God can give you a 100-mph fastball. He can't give you brains.

3. Adams moved up playing for a playoff-caliber team where he is more than likely the closer-to-be next season.

4. Wieland and Erlin will probably make their Major League debuts in San Diego this season and they will love the pitcher-friendly Petco Park.

5. As good as Erlin and Wieland are, they are still projected to be No. 3 starters. They are not outstanding pitchers. Not like Martin Perez.

What scares the shit out of me is this:

1. That the old adage of "relievers are a year-to-year proposition" pertains to Adams or Uehara as much as it does, say, Neftali Feliz.

2. What if Erlin and Wieland trump all projections?

If those two ideas come to light, I hope GM Jon Daniels is prepared to take it in the nuts.

As the emotions began to settle, that's what kept me on the "glass-half-full" side of things: My faith in Daniels. Over the last three years, he's failed to really disappoint. Almost everything he touches turns to gold and the Rangers aren't where they are.

Daniels had to overpay. That's what general managers do. The only way this works out for Daniels and the Rangers is if Erlin and Wieland become amazing Major League pitchers. However, there's still a very good chance that neither catch on. There's a good chance that we will remember Adams forever and forget about Wieland and Erlin in five years.

I highly doubt this, otherwise, I wouldn't be so reticent to doubt the trade.

For now, the bullpen is no longer a question. With Uehara, Adams and Feliz in the back end, there are no more excuses. Every blown save will be excruciating.

This also opens all the doors for Perez and Feliz to be at least in the discussion for the rotation next season.

CG SO

Clicking

No one in the history of the Texas Rangers has gone from the trading block to "untouchable" quicker than Derek Holland today.

For a week, Holland's name has been spun around the wheel in a myriad of deals. After Holland tossed his fourth complete game shutout -- a 3-0 win against Toronto -- of the season, he stayed a Texas Ranger.

It is Holland's fourth complete game shutout of the season and all four have come in the last 11 starts.

The last three complete game shutouts have came in the last five games. In four of those games, Holland's failed to allow an earned run. This isn't just a good run. It's a historic run.

Holland shares a tie for second in the American League in complete games with Jered Weaver and Justin Verlander. Holland has th sole lead in the AL in shutouts. He's won forur of his last five starts.

Holland might just be growing up and his possible departure via trade might have been a huge gaffe on the part of the Rangers. Talk centers around trying to find a replacement for him. I'd suggest that Holland would be the better option, depending on who you bring in. Hell, which Rangers starter, right now, would you bench? Holland would be a tough guy to sit.

Holland, most importantly, Holland's keeping the ball in the park, as are most of the Rangers pitchers not named "Colby Lewis."

In 138 innings in 2009, Holland allowed 26 home runs. In 139 innings this year, he's allowed 14 dingers. In the last 43 innings, he's allowed just two home runs. The Holland of 2011 is a different man from the Holland of 2009.

Notes:
1. Holland is 4-0 when Mike Napoli catches.

2. Napoli, by the way, is red-hot at the plate. His average has jumped 40 points in last 10 games to .285. Most notably, he's walked 31 times compared to 44 strikeouts, a vast improvement of ratio over previous years.

3. With the trade earlier today, Andres Blanco is coming off the disabled list. Meaning, Omar Quintanilla is staying on the team (at least until Adrian Beltre comes back). Quintanilla made his first start as a Ranger today.

4. Mitch Moreland's at-bats aren't as pretty as they used to be, but he's starting to hit again. Fourteen hits in last 10 games. A gigantic two-run dinger today.

5. Toronto threw 153 pitches. The Rangers threw 95.

6. It'd be nice if the Rangers punished the Blue Jays' shitty pitchers.

Uehara turns 'rumors' into 'fact'

Uehara: Japanese and loving it

It will take me some time to get over this trade.

Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter -- two longtime rooting interests -- were sent to Baltimore for reliever Koji Uehara.

I have some reservations, but nothing I won't get over with time. Here they are:

1. The Rangers did overpay for Uehara. He's 36. He's not exactly under contract a long time and he's just in his second full year in the Majors. Meaning, he's old, he may not be here past 2012 and, even if he is, will Major-League hitters ever catch up with him. The Rangers gave up two Major-League players to get him. No, Hunter and Davis are not guys you build around. One is a back-of-the-rotation starter. The other a potential Quadruple A slugger. However, they are guys that can help you.

2. Hunter is an arm. A guy you knew could take the ball every fifth day and hold his own. I just get a little scary when the Rangers are giving away rotation-ready pitchers.

3. I have this feeling that Davis is going to figure things out. It's a gut feeling. No explanation. He's going to wind up hitting 40 homers a season and fans around this dump are going to ask, "Why did we get rid of this guy?"

In my heart, however, I know this is a good move.

Hunter was blocked. He could never get back into the rotation this year and with guys like Martin Perez, Neftali Feliz, Rob Erlin, Joe Wieland and others potentially breaking in the next two or three years, Hunter's prospects dwindled.

In addition, Derek Holland's performances the last three weeks probably put this trade over the top.

Davis was another guy that wasn't going to get the at-bats with the Rangers in order to get better. He was Jason Botts. Time had run out and he needs to find himself a new place to get going. I will always keep an eye on those guys and root for them. I just hope this doesn't bite the Rangers in the ass.

As for Uehara, he's been great the last two years out of the bullpen. In 86 appearances out of the bullpen, he's allowed 11 home runs and 13 walks. He gets everyone out -- lefties and righties -- on the road or at home. Plus, he's cut his teeth in the AL East, where ERAs go to die.

Also, it's nice that the Rangers addressed a huge need and didn't have to touch Erlin, Wieland or any other high-ceiling prospect.

****
Evan Grant threw his hat in the trade rumor mill this afternoon. He said the Chicago White Sox and Rangers are kicking tires on some players. Apparently, the Rangers were looking at big 34-year-old lefty reliever Matt Thornton and lefty starter John Danks, who ... ah, well, we all know his story.

This odd considering the White Sox aren't exactly out of things. Thornton is expensive ($12 million salary) and he's not getting anyone out. And I don't know where Danks fits.

Grant wrote this story before Holland pitched his fourth complete game shutout this afternoon. Grant nonchalantly suggest Danks takes over Holland's spot in the rotation and possible Alexi Ogando's spot in the playoff rotation. As if Danks is God's gift to pitching.

He also paints Danks as a replacement for C.J. Wilson, who hits the open market after the season.

Grant is a little too cavalier with his language in my opinion.

****
For what its worth, I honestly don't feel the Cleveland Indians gave away too much to acquire Ubaldo Jimenez. It makes me a little sad that the Rangers weren't at least in the running. Although, they might have had to give up more.

No-no

Player man, Joe Wieland

With the trade rumors continuing to swirl around the Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres, something special happened.

According to MLBtraderumors.com, the Padres wanted prospects Robbie Erlin and Joe Wieland for reliever Mike Adams. They wanted Erlin for Heath Bell.

No matter what happens, Wieland has certain made an impression.

One measly walk kept Wieland from a perfect game tonight although he did finish the no hitter, 3-0, against the San Antonio Missions.

Wieland's notched seven starts in Double A and he's simply gotten better. His lines in High A and Frisco:

2.10 ERA - 4 BBs - 96 Ks - .240 BAA
1.23 ERA - 11 BBs - 36 Ks - .217 BAA

For the right guy, I have no problems with trading Erlin. Wieland I would have a problem with. The guy is a surgeon. He's not throwin 99 and blowing people away, getting away with a lot of hits or walks.

Opponents simply can't hit him. Isn't that what you want more than anything?

Killer Bs

Andy Bailey: "Merry Christmas you ol' savings and loan!"

Word is that talks are at a standstill between the Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres for Heath Bell. Seems the Rangers are being patient. Still got three days to iron things out.

One San Diego radio station, per Evan Grant, reported the Padres want Derek Holland and Jurickson Profar in a deal. As Grant says, this is the most retarded idea in the entire world.

Grant, however, notes that to get a top-notch reliever, they'll need to give up a lefty starter: Holland, Robbie Erlin or Martin Perez.

Another note cited the Rangers eyeing three relievers.

It appears the second (after Bell) is the Oakland Athletics' Andrew Bailey.

I haven't seen Bailey among players on the trading block and the Athletics have typically not traded within the division.

Bailey is 27 and is arbitration eligible through 2014 and a free agent in 2015. So, he's not a rent-a-player.

In three seasons, he's converted 63 of 72 save opportunities. He's allowed nine home runs (in a pitcher's ballpark) in 153 big-league innings. His career numbers:

1.77 ERA - 0.90 WHIP - .176 BAA.

Although young with not a lot of experience, Bailey's been terrific. But he'll cost you.

Rangers bullpen doesn't need no stinkin' Heath Bell

Michael Cuddyer: Public enemy No. 1

Amid an insane amount of information that points to the Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres coming to an agreement in trading Heath Bell, the Rangers bullpen goes into lockdown.

The Rangers bullpen tossed 1.2 crisp innings in a 4-1 win to salvage a home split to Minnesota.

It featured a GIGANTICALLY HUGE strikeout by Yoshi Tateyama in the eighth inning after starter Matt Harrison allowed a one-out walk to Joe Mauer. Then Michael Cuddyer came up. He had seven hits already in the series and was 2-3 going into the inning.

Naturally, Tateyama struck him out.

Then Jason Kubel, a lefty, came up. He had six hits and six RBI in the series. Naturally, Arthur Rhodes came in and got him to fly out. Note: Lefties are hitting .216 off Rhodes. He's a SITUATIONAL LEFTY. If you don't want a SITUATIONAL LEFTY then A) don't sign him in the first place or B) trade him or C) release him.

It all makes sense.

Then, a day after Nolan Ryan and Ron Washington dragged him through the media mud, Neftali Feliz tosses a pristine 15-pitch ninth inning for his 21st save.

Yes, the Rangers still need bullpen help, a late-inning reliable arm. I don't want to break the piggy bank for Heath Bell, but there aren't a ton of options. However, games like last night help you realize that there are pieces here that can work.

Notes:
1. Josh Hamilton was the odd homer away from the cycle. A very quiet seven hits and three RBI in the series.

2. Michael Young has a seven-game hitting streak. His last 10: 18 hits, 11 runs, 10 RBI. He is 14 hits from 2,000.

3. What can you say about Matt Harrison? I wouldn't have called him particularly sharp last night, yet, he goes into the eighth inning allowing a single run. You can't possibly ask for more.

4. Harrison had 39 walks in 78 innings in 2010. He has 39 walks in 125 innings this year. He has three walks in his last five games (35 IP).

5. Rangers outscored the Twins 34-23 and split.

Stephen Bowen jumping ship

Let's hope Stephen Bowen doesn't tear out Tony Romo's gizzard as a Redskin

The Washington Redskins jumped up and have agreed to terms with Dallas Cowboys lineman Stephen Bowen.

The damage done is five years and $27.5 million with $12.5 guaranteed.

This has a lot of repurcussions.

For one, this reminds me of the New York Giants signing Chris Canty. Then, it was for six years and $42 million and $17 million. Funny thing, for both their times with the Cowboys, I felt Bowen did a lot more despite starting a lot less.

Bowen, I've felt, has been one of the top two or three defensive linemen in the team. I somewhat joked that Bowen made a significant play per game, most of the time coming off the bench.

Bowen is one of three defensive line free agents after Marcus Spears and Jason Hatcher. Honestly, Bowen was the best of the three. I think they are down on Hatcher and lukewarm on Spears.

Bowen's departure still leaves the Cowboys with one defensive end, Igor Olshansky. With Jay Ratliff and Josh Brent at the nose, that's three signed linemen on the team. Bowen's departure should force the Cowboys to keep Spears or Hatcher and, more than likely, go onto the open market and get a guy.

****
Tyron Smith -- the first-round pick -- is apparently close to inking a four-year, $12.5 million deal, all of which is guaranteed.

In other offensive line news, Kyle Kosier has agreed to a three-year, $12 million deal. He was a free agent and a much-needed signing. I'm sure it was never in jeopardy.

The Cowboys have (or ... will) invested more than $53 million in its offensive line by keeping Doug Free and Kosier and signing Smith.

Still no word on Marc Columbo's future. As of this minute, the starting offensive line is: Doug Free, Montrae Holland, Andre Gurode (recovering from a knee scope, FYI), Kosier and Smith. If Columbo stays, he's a nice piece of depth along with Sam Young, Phil Costa and ... gulp! ... Alex Barron.

The problem with Neftali Feliz

The boy ain't right

Four months of the 2011 MLB season has brought a lot of theories about what is wrong with Neftali Feliz.

It's been clear that something wasn't and isn't right. Many thought it was maybe focus. Some thought it was physical. Maybe yanking him around the rotation and bullpen in Spring Training messed with his head. Maybe he's being misused. Others think that Feliz needs the high-pressure situations to put his head right.

Nolan Ryan and Ron Washington think that its drive. And they would know.

This, from the Express:

"His body language isn't good. It's bothering me. He just seems too lackadaisical. He doesn't look like he's into his role."

Yikes.

Said Wash:

"I just don't see urgency. I just don't see it. I'm not saying it's not there, maybe he's dealing with it in a different manner, but he's not exuding urgency. Maybe that's just his demeanor."

Fact is, Wash, this is his third season in the Majors. If you can't read his "demeanor" now, you aren't ever. It's not a knock on Wash. I think the skipper's as perplexed as anyone. These guys are trying to look their closer in the eye and they're apparently seeing blankness and a total lack of urgency or energy.

I think the argument that Feliz is being misused is a good one. Washington's not been the greatest at managing the bullpen. Why he was pitching in the blowout Monday night is a complete mystery. Then you haul him into Tuesday's game and he blows it.

It's not all mismanagement and Washington. The most alarming stat are the strikeouts. Or lack thereof.

He has just 26 strikeouts in 37.2 innings. He's not hitting 100 mph as much as he did a year ago, but he's still hitting upper-90s regularly and you can strike people out with slower stuff. You've just got to be smarter.

Feliz is not missing bats. I'd be unable and unwilling to count the number of foul balls opponents have worked off Feliz. The quick nine-pitch innings are long gone. There's no off-speed stuff and the hitters are just sitting on the fastball.

If you seen Feliz, just by his body language (as Nolan stated) you know things aren't right. Well, they need to get there. Quick.

Amassing Thursday morning trade rumors

Six Pence, none the richer

It's July 28 and all is quiet on the Texas Rangers trade front.

The Rangers dropped their second in a row last night to the Minnesota Twins, who absolutely perplex the Rangers for whatever reason. They turn into Murderers Row. It's unbelievable. No worries. Can take the split today.

Despite three days being left in the trade season, the Rangers are rather quiet. Here's what or what is not cooking.

Ubaldo Jimenez
There are still talks. The Rangers are not a part of him. I don't know if the Rangers need a starting pitcher. But if you get a shot at getting a guy of Jimenez' caliber, you do it. I think.

Heath Bell
His name is getting hotter after the flurry of big deals yesterday. I just don't think anyone wants to overpay for an apparent rental. Jon Heyman's reporting that Bell wants to go to St. Louis. If the Rangers get him, it'll be another Cliff Lee situation where he's probably walking in the off-season. Also, if Bell comes on, who is your closer?

Carlos Beltran
Beltran wound up going to San Francisco, a deal that included Zach Wheeler going to the New York Mets. If everyone's evaluation of Wheeler is correct, it'd be like the Rangers sending Martin Perez. Heyman reported that the Rangers offered a package of "OK" prospects. I don't know what that means. I assume it was quantity over quality. The Mets got quality from the Giants.

Hunter Pence-B.J. Upton
Not that I expect the Rangers to be tied to either, but considering their ties to Beltran it seems a tad ... surprising. Of course, it floored me that they were on Beltran. Both are corner outfielders. Upton's a bit of a mystery. Pence is really good. I get the feeling that both the Rays and Astros are dying to trade either.

I love the Texas Rangers

Any time I can Google "Andres Blanco fart," I'll take it. Win or lose.

Rangers trade updates and who is that pitching and did you do with C.J. Wilson?

This is not the look of a man that's doing well

There is only update on the Texas Rangers trade deadline extravaganza.

And that is Ken Rosenthal tweeting that Carlos Beltran is "NOT" going to the Rangers. This despite it being bandied about last night that Mets scouts were at the Frisco and Round Rock games taking a look at Martin Perez (who the Rangers would not have included in a trade) and Robbie Erlin. (I would suggest that maybe the Mets were looking at another Express pitching ... maybe from the bullpen.)

Otherwise, it was a disaster last night in Arlington. Rangers lost to the Twins, 9-8.

Neftali Feliz blew a save. What's worse is that C.J. Wilson -- ol' reliable -- coughed up a four-run, fifth inning lead. He didn't make it through the inning and was not pleased.

It was his shortest outing and, by far, his worst due solely to the way it ended. Up 7-3 after a big inning, Wilson allowed three straight walks. We're professionals here. You hit the strike zone up four runs, especially midway through the game. Wilson was pissed. I was pissed. Everyone was pissed.

Also, maybe enough is not being made about Elvis Andrus' error in the ninth. Looks like he was trying to go home, lost concentration and bobbled the ball. At the very leaste you get the guy at first. Unfortunately, it not only scored the run, but left Neftali Feliz with just one out and Joe Mauer at the plate.

Does Feliz pitch differently with two outs? Does Mauer still get the game-winning RBI double? Maybe, maybe not. All I know is that Andrus needs to make that play. In fact, he needs to make more plays that are good.

Notes:
1. I'm at the point that Michael Cuddyer scares the shit out of me. The dude's a Ranger-killer.

2. Ben Revere is hitting .253. Six total extra-base hits. Can we please get him out? Throw an effin' strike!!

3. Yorvit Torrealba with a monster four-RBI game, all for naught. I'd make the blanket statement that he's been better offensively than we could have hoped.

4. Nellie Cruz is having a monster homestand: 12 RBI, six doubles, six-game hitting streak, two four-hit games.

5. Is Mitch "The Bitch" Moreland ramping up? Four hits and three RBI in series.

The first cuts are the deepest

An organization with goals!

Word yesterday was that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, needing to spend a crapload of cash in order to meet the new spending minimum in the NFL, were going to go hard after Dallas Cowboys free agent tackle Doug Free.

So, the Cowboys agreed to a four-year, $32 million contract late last night with Free that includese a $17 million signing bonus.

So much for the Bucs.

As of right now, the only starters from last year's offensive line still on the team are Free, Marc Columbo and center Andre Gurode.

The cuts have already happened and more are to come.

With Free in the fold and Tyron Smith getting drafted, the end is here, so most think, for Columbo. Kyle Kosier is still technically a free agent.

Plus, the Cowboys went to the chopping block yesterday.

Guard Leonard Davis, running back Marion Barber, kicker Kris Brown and receiver Roy Williams were cut. The team was $19 million over the new cap and are now just $2 million over after saving about $17 million after those cuts. Cutting Davis and Williams, alone, saved them $11 million.

Brown was a bit of a surprise. The Cowboys want to create competition for the kicker's job with David Buehler. However, Brown's die was cast when the Cowboys agreed to terms with free agent rookie Dan Bailey, the leading kicker in college football from Oklahoma State. It'll be mano y mano in training camp.

I think Davis, aside from being kind of pedestrian last season, was just too expensive. Keeping him longterm as opposed to possibly seeing Free walk was not in the cards. Davis would have been gone in a few years anyway. It still leaves you with a hole in left guard unless the Cowboys have something up their sleeves.

Barber's departure was a long time coming. To put it bluntly, he was not very good. He was like a candle in the wind. He burned bright, and he burned hot. He also burnt himself out. His style resulted in injuries. A so-so offensive line hurt and I don't know if he was ever a favorite of Jason Garrett. It just doesn't feel like he was.

Finally, Williams. In professional sports, bad teams are bad for a reason. Mostly because they are inept. Someone in that organization picks that awful player you see on the field. That someone pays that player good money to be awful. Every team has bad players, it's just that some teams have less bad players than others.

The Cowboys, seemingly, are the bad team. The Detroit Lions -- in hindsight -- took the Cowboys behind the shed and whipped their ass raw. The Cowboys gave up a first-, third-, sixth- and seventh-round pick for Williams.

The Miami Dolphins, a year later, gave up two second-round picks for Brandon Marshall. The New York Jets gave up a FIFTH-ROUND pick for Santonio Holmes. Both receivers are monumentally more effective than Williams.

Williams sucked and he, along with Joey Galloway, are shining examples of how Jerry Jones has run this organization into the ground.

Book Review: Boys Will Be Boys

Yes, I realize this book was released 100 years ago, but you are a sucker of you're paying premium on books. This shit is in bargain counters after two years. Save your money and read it three years after. The content doesn't change.

The minute I heard that Jeff Pearlman was writing a book on the 1990s Dallas Cowboys, my ears immediately perked up. For one, Pearlman is an accomplished journalist and writer, having already tackled the 1986 New York Mets.

Two, if you want to get my football weenie going amid a lockout, tell me about the 1990s Dallas Cowboys.

The mention of the lockout is significant. With the threat of labor turmoil in the NFL and NBA and just years after the NHL and MLB cancelled entire seasons due to similar issues, there has been talk of when fans' ideals of sports are broken.

Often, it is when a team changes cities, a player is traded or, perhaps, when players/teams fall into disreputable circumstances like drugs, crime, steroids or cheating. For young boys of 1908, it might have been the Black Sox or possibly the steroid era of baseball. When is the innocence lost?

My sports cherry burst in 1994 when Jimmy Johnson quit (or was pushed out or fired) as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. If you read this blog, you know I hate the Cowboys. In 1994, that was not the case.

I was between the ages of nine and 14 during the timeline of Boys will be Boys, Pearlman's inside look at the dynasty of the Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s. I'd liked football for several years and naturally, living in north Texas, my favorite team became the Cowboys. And they stunk. I didn't care. My baseball team (the Texas Rangers) stunk too. Winning didn't mean anything. Existing meant everything.

By the time Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys, winning became everything. By the time he'd pushed Johnson out, I realized that winning really didn't mean anything. Neither did making money, really. It was about Jones: The man, the myth, the legend.

In 2011, we see this for what it is. It is clear that Jones is obsessed with his image and his legacy as an owner. If we really knew then what we know now, maybe we react differently and maybe we bail out on the Cowboys sooner.

I bailed out in 1994. Shortly after winning a motherfucking Super Bowl, Jimmy and Jerry decide they can't work together. As I remember, Jimmy was essentially pushed out. It helped winning another Super Bowl two seasons later, but the decade of malaise and empty promises have rubbed people raw. What we know now (that we didn't know in 1994 or 1989) was that Jones was the great unmovable object.

That is what propels Boys will be Boys. It's not so much as the dream fulfilled (the three Super Bowl wins) as much as its about all the disappointment, celebrity, drugs, women, ego and opportunities lost.

Looking back, as much as the 1990s Cowboys were a dynasty, they were moreso a flash in the pan, a brief -- yet powerful -- force that dominating professional football for four years and simply fell off. Injuries mounted, personnel slipped badly, folks got older and the league never got any easier or more forgiving. Boys will be Boys is not a testament to what we had in Dallas, but what we lost.

Things I didn't know that I know now:

1. Being a kid at the time, the crime, women, drugs, car wrecks and buffoonery did not interest me and I was probably more than likely unable to understand it anyway. Re-reading about all that junk is fascinating and to have it placed in timeline with the seasons and team-oriented circumstances helps to all of the pieces of the puzzle together.

2. I knew that Michael Irvin was far more important to the team than what his stats showed. It is interesting to realize that today's Cowboys fight and claw to find four good receivers; however, in the 1990s, you had Irvin and that's it. Nothing against Alvin Harper, but he wasn't around for very long and his actual impact was minimal. The threat made more of an impact. Past Harper, it was a hodgepodge of fleeting names and personalities that you probably never got to know. Irvin's impact was real and it was overwhelming. He was the king of the castle. Everything went through him. I don't think there's a book thick enough to attempt to explain what he meant for those teams.

3. I didn't realize how big of a dick Jimmy Johnson was. That guy was hardcore. Ditching his wife because he simply had no time for her and didn't want to feel bad (or for her to feel jilted) when he wasn't around. Then the way he treated guys. I knew he was a hardass ... just didn't know how far it went.

4. Didn't know that Jones was such a philanderer. Thus, I can't understand why this isn't a story. Jones has been in a well-known marriage with Gene for years and years and he works with his three children with the Cowboys. Pearlman writes about Jones' frequent trysts with girls throughout the 1990s and not one word is said about it? How was this not a huge story when the book was released? How do his kids work with him? Why did no one blink at this tidbit?

5. I was not aware how much Troy Aikman hated Barry Switzer, nor did I realize how nonplussed Switzer was about coaching America's Team.

6. Unaware just how much Dallas-Fort Worth journalists partied with the 1990s Cowboys and didn't say a word about it. I get keeping things off the record and developing relationships. However, doing what the 1990s Cowboys were doing off the field and keeping all under wraps seemed completely unresponsible. It wasn't just partying: These were escapades probably rarely -- if ever -- rivaled in professional sports.

I'll say this: If this were Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones or Roy "Receiver" Williams doing all of this, it'd be plastered over the front page of the newspaper.

7. In addition to crime and sex, another aspect sports I had no time for was the Emmitt Smith holdout in 1993. He'd led the league in rushing and wanted a new deal for more money. The team thought he deserved it. Jerry Jones didn't. Unfortunately, the latter is the man that holds the purse strings. The holdout ended, as we know, after the Cowboys started 0-2 and Charles Haley smashed his helmet into a wall adjacent to Jones, who was in the lockerroom. Smith would get his money. However, compared to what Troy Aikman would get easily in an extension, it was still a slap in the face. The result was a deep mistrust of Jones and the understandable thought that he was racist, passively or not.

If you are a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, media or football in general, this is a really quick read. The writing is rich and the reporting and research unmistakably Jeff Pearlman. It tells a story. Much of it is tragic, but don't we all like a train wreck?

And you learn how much of a dick Jerry Jones is.

Things I don't get: Carlos Beltran and the Texas Rangers

Charlie "Chuck" Beltran

Word broke last night that the one team pushing hardest to acquire Carlos Beltran from the New York Mets is our own Texas Rangers.

"Leader in the clubhouse" is different from "pushing hardest." Concerning any trade piece, the Rangers are in the talks because they have the prospects to make just about any move. But to be "pushing hard" means the Rangers are more into this than any other competitor and maybe even the Mets. Beltran himself has stated a preference for the National League and has a no-trade clause.

Here are my questions:

Why do the Rangers want Beltran?
The Rangers have one of the best offenses and defensive outfields in the league, so this one is a mystery. Beltran's speed is no longer there, but his power is still there (30 doubles, 15 homers this year). He also walks a lot (58 this year, 92 his last full year) and doesn't strike out a lot. He's a smart hitter. Not overly explosive or exciting as when he was younger. He's not a monumental improvement defensively. In fact, he's stated that he doesn't want to move from right field (where he was moved to this season to reduce wear and tear on the knees) to center. If the Rangers have any holes, it might be an everyday centerfielder. That's really the only reason I think the Rangers would want him, but he doesn't really want to go there.

Where does he play? Where do you stick him in the line-up?
Again, I would assume the Rangers want him in center. He wants to be in right where Nelson Cruz isn't going anywhere. He also doesn't want to DH. Seems like between Endy Chavez, Craig Gentry and Josh Hamilton, the Rangers have center covered. As of right now, does Beltran crack the top six in the batting order. Things are cooking offensively and moving pieces around now seems potentially detrimental. At best, he bats seventh behind Cruz. The Rangers don't need protection for Hamilton and the top of the line-up (Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus) is set. Isn't making sense.

What are the Rangers admitting with their fervent interest in Beltran?
If the Rangers think they are lacking offensively, then they are seeing a different team from the rest of us. My only thought is that acquiring Beltran -- a switch hitter -- might address the struggles against left-handed pitching. Unfortunately, Beltran's hitting .232 against lefties. I do think they are admitting that Chavez and Gentry are not long-term or even short-term solution for centerfield and going into a playoff run, they can't be trusted. Also, the Rangers might be looking for versatility in the line-up, instead of playing lefty-righty match-ups from night to night. Again, I don't know.

Is Beltran just a loser?
Beltran is five-tool talent playing in his 14 MLB season and -- with a trade -- his fourth team. He's been on two playoff teams (Houston in 2004, Mets in 2006). He is not known for his career (he'll reach 300 homers, 400 doubles this season) or the way he played as much as the huge contract he got out of the Mets and the injuries that ate up a good chunk of his career. He's 34 and already changing positions to save his body and in a couple of years, he'll be with another two teams and probably DHing in the American League. It should also be noted that Beltran is in his final year of that Mets contract. He will be a free agent at the end of the year. There's a good chance that he would play his final four months (or so) with the Rangers and walk. No matter how good or bad he was, it'd be just like Cliff Lee.

What are the Rangers really looking at?
I suspect, again, an everyday centerfielder. I also think they've seen Beltran's post-season numbers. In four series, he's batted .366 with a 1.302 OPS. In 22 post-season games, he has 31 runs, 11 homers and 19 RBI. Seems like a short-sighted reason to make a move.

What will he cost?
Tried to find a comparison trade and failed. One executive said the Mets won't get a top-40 prospect for Beltran, so you assume that excludes Jurickson Profar and Martin Perez (at least) from the equation. Ken Davidoff seconded this opinion, noting the Mets will need to opt for "quantity over quality." Do you start a package off with Julio Borbon and/or Chris Davis? Is Tommy Mendonca or Michael Bianucci (good, but not great, Double A talent) long-term stays for the Rangers? What are opinions on Robbie Ross, Rob Erlin, Barret Loux and Tanner Scheppers? Honestly, I don't think that Beltran will cost a lot in terms of high-quality prospects. He's basically going to be a rental player who is 34 years old and could go down to injury at any moment. The last thing any team wants to do is overpay and force the Mets to take what is offered.

20-6

The Dutch Oven, cooking

More than 35,000 fans got to see the Minnesota Twins toss batting practice to the Texas Rangers tonight.

The Rangers reciprocated by knocking 27 hits (16 singles, eight doubles, two homers and a triple) and scoring 20 runs. It was a win, 20-6, of course.

I surely hope the Rangers are realizing what fans are doing for this franchise. I haven't attended a game that didn't top 30,000. I doubt attendance has ever dropped below 25K on any given night. All of this in, probably, the second hottest summer in modern north Texas history.

Yes, it's easy to enjoy a winning team. It is not always easy to drag the family out to the Ballpark to sit through three hours of baseball with it still being 100 degrees in the ninth inning.

It's no knock on the Rangers and moreso a compliment to the fandom. Hope management is taking note.

****
Tonight was another start for Derek Holland coming off a very disappointing start in that collapse against California.

Holland went six allowing an unearned run and walking none. Holland got lucky. Five or six Twin outs were hit really hard right at outfielders. Josh Hamilton and Nellie Cruz both made great plays to take away extra-bases. The Rangers were also eaten up with errors. Chris Davis had two at third base. Another came on a sure-fire double play ball with Elvis Andrus and Michael Young getting mixed up covering second (Young playing second base).

Overall, Holland was still pretty sharp. Each start will be a must-see from now on.

****
You can't convince me that the Minnesota Twins haven't quit. They're professionals, but that team is a mess. Any talk of them fighting back in the AL Central is ridiculous. They are incredibly sloppy and that doesn't take into account that they have zero offense and suspect pitching.

That was an awful performance outside of the Rangers smacking every pitch around the park.

Notes:
1. OK. I'm convinced. Arthur Rhodes can't get outs.

2. Mike Young was bound to get his 2,000th hit by the sixth inning. He settled for three, 18 off the milestone. Has 10 hits in last four games. The guy's also sitting at 70 RBI. His career high is 103 in that magical 52-double season.

3. In 10 games, Mike Napoli's raised his average to .223 to .267. He's played in five straight games.

4. With 27 hits, there were many "big" ones. I felt Mitch Moreland's two-run double in the fourth was the biggest. Seemed like a load of weight was lifted off his shoulders. He got on base four times.

5. Something about Omar Quintanilla's look that I like. Showed a little pop with that RBI triple. You might be able to do a lot worse for an utility infielder.

6. Rangers starters all have eight or more wins. Holland won his ninth tonight. With 130 innings, Holland is second on the team behind C.J. Wilson.

Dallas Cowboys Depth Chart: Quarterback

Tony Homo

With that nasty lockout over and done with, we begin our expedited trip through the Dallas Cowboys roster. One position at a time.

I don't know about you, but, quarterbackwise, I am pumped. It's nut-cutting time.

Note: This was written before training camp and before the Cowboys had brought in any free agent or rookie free agents.

Tony Romo
This is it for Romo. He's 31 and there comes a time when the body slows down and the competition -- younger, faster -- inhibits your ability to play. I don't think Romo and the Cowboys need to win a Super Bowl this year. However, there's needs to be some level of success. It might be a playoff win. If the Cowboys don't improve, do you feel good for a Romo firmly in his 30s for 2012 or 2013 or 2014? Romo's not a guy that hasn't had the chance. This will be Romo's sixth full year. Six years. He needs to do something. He needs to put this team on his back -- a la Dirk -- and accept nothing left other than post-season glory.

Jon Kitna
I hope we don't forget the little fire Kitna lit beneath every guy on this team. He didn't take over as starting quarterback last season to get through to week 17 and the off-season. He was going to work his ass off to win as many games as he could. And he's not a guy that has a lot to gain. No matter what happened a year ago, Romo was this team's starting quarterback and no one was going to throw a starting deal at a guy who will be 39 in September. He seems to want to win. Which is odd considering the time he spent with Cincinnati and Detroit. I guess the will to win can't always overcome an inability to win. A nice back-up, though.

Stephen McGee
I don't have a good feel as to how the Cowboys feel about McGee. He played two games a year ago and completed 50 percent of his passes. No interceptions. Is he a guy that can one day start? Is he a career back-up? Will he be in Canadian Football League in two years? I would think after this season that a decision needs to be made. Kitna is signed through 2013 and McGee through 2012. Difference is that McGee's getting $500K a year and Kitna's getting $3 million. However, a large variable is Romo. As long as Romo is here and the Cowboys are competitive, McGee will be the third-string quarterback or with another team. Jerry Jones is not going to risk the season on an unproven kid.

The kaleidoscope of Texas Rangers

Cruz control

The Texas Rangers took the weekend to play about as differently as you can from night to night.

It was the punishment of Jo-Jo Reyes Friday night in a 12-2 win. Saturday was all drama in a walk-off win down 4-3 going into the bottom of the ninth. Then, Sunday, saw the Rangers completely handcuffed, 3-0, against Brett Cecil, a so-so lefty from the bottom of the Toronto Blue Jays' rotation.

It was a good weekend in that the Rangers pulled out the series win and maintained their lead in the AL West. It was bad in that Adrian Beltre is on the 15-day disabled list due to a sprained hamstring.

Chris Davis was called up and you get the feeling this is it for the kid. Just 25, everyone, it seems, is ready to move on ... including Davis. No matter how he performs, Davis will be shopped on the trade market and I think he becomes a chip in a bigger trade involving younger, higher-ceilinged players. It's going to suck if he moves on and gets it and hits 40 home runs a year.

However, Evan Grant wrote an interesting story on the fact that with Davis up, he's working with Scott Coolbaugh, the hitting coach Crush has worked with at Frisco and, most recently, Oklahoma City.

As of Saturday night, he looked good. Knocked an RBI single. Went hitless on Sunday night (as did the rest of the line-up) and has struck out just once.

A quick hit: Why were Mitch Moreland and Chris Davis in the line-up against lefty Cecil yesterday? I get sitting Yorvit Torrealba, but I don't see why that couldn't come on another day. Nitpicking a first-place team.

Notes:
1. Thought Tommy Hunter and Yoshi Tateyama were strong in relief Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Pitched multiple innings, allowed the bare minimum and struck out a couple. Kept the Rangers in the game.

2. Thought Alexi Ogando was pretty sharp Sunday. Hung two too many sliders to the heart of the Blue Jays order, but is still showing everyone that the workload (199 IP) isn't affecting him. Yet.

3. Matt Harrison: 26 BBs in first 9 starts; 12 BBs in last 10.

4. Elvis Andrus has 18 fielding errors. I'd say half are ones he usually makes.

5. Mike Young had seven hits against Toronto. He needs 21 for 2,000. And 1,021 for 3,000.

6. Per Young's game-winner Saturday, he's been on a different plain the last month or so. In July, he's hit .377 and he's struck out just four times in 20 games. I ignore situational stats mostly because I think an RBI single with two outs in a close game is far more important than an RBI home run in a blowout. However, it feels like any time the Rangers need a run, in a close game, Young is the first to come through. Love what he's doing lately.

7. Jo-Jo Reyes should just skip his next start against the Rangers: In 7 IP this year, he's allowed 13 hits and 14 runs.

8. Colby Lewis is 34-33 as a Texas Ranger. Took nine years to get over the hump.

9. Nelson Cruz had nine RBI in the series, eight coming Friday night. He went from around 20th in the American League, to 10th.

Joe John Barea has had sex at least once

Baby momma

J.J. Barea, the polarizing back-up point guard for the world-champion Dallas Mavericks, got Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera preggers.

Seven weeks pregnant.

That'd be early June. Around the time the Mavericks closed out the Miami Heat. Celebration going on.

Yes they are sexing it up out of wedlock and, yes, I do think the Barea can do better. She looks like Lord Voldemort.

Do you think Barea cried when he heard and knelt beside her and told her that he'd help take care of this baby?

Play on, J.J., play on.

The Dallas Cowboys, in free agency

Like Haley's Comet: A stand-out Marcus Spears play

Who knows about the NFL lockout. It's a bunch of pandering to the media and positioning by both sides and you'd be best just to keep out of it until it's all resolved.

We might have a new collective bargaining agreement by today. Or it might trudge along for another week. Who knows?

If it does get resolved, an extremely exciting period of free agency will ensue in short order as camps get up and running.

The Cowboys have seven notable free agents, a handful of guys that could be cut, a new class of rookies, high expectations and an even higher payroll. They are on the hook for $134 million and they haven't sign free agents or reupped guys like Doug Free.

I last heard that the new CBA would include a $120 cap. Yes. Do the math.

The Cowboys could cut bait on Roy Williams, Leonard Davis, Marion Barber and Marc Columbo. I think Barber is toast. I can't imagine them cutting their starting right tackle and left guard at the same time. I think Davis is safer than Columbo.

Here are the free agents:

Doug Free
Everyone's relatively convinced the Cowboys need to lock him up. I'm not as convinced. He's had a good year. Still, there's no alternative. He can go on the market and fetch whatever he wants. So, the Cowboys will need over overpay and oversell now and hope for the best the next five seasons. I don't think Free's a sure bet.

Stephen Bowen
I've always liked Bowen. I've always stated that he makes one significant play per game, as a back-up, no less. He'll have suitors and I suspect he'll more than likely leave.

Marcus Spears
If Bowen goes, Spears stays and vice versa. I think they'd rather cut Igor Olshansky, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards. Spears is a fine player. Never great. Eh. Keep him if you want.

Kyle Kosier
I would bet he's a top priority for the Cowboys. His potential departure also ensures Davis and Columbo for another year. The Cowboys (and fans) saw what happened when Kosier is injured. Problem is, is he worth the cash if he misses half a season?

Sam Hurd
He probably wants snaps on offense that he isn't going to get. I think we've seen the last of Hurd.

Gerald Sensabaugh
Question: Can the Cowboys do better at safety? I would assume it'll get very expensive to go out and get two safeties on the open market, if, indeed, Alan Ball is someone that needs to be replaced. Sensabaugh has publicly stated that he wants to get paid. He's a grand guy if you can pay him $4.5 million. He's a wreck if he gets $8 million.

Jason Hatcher
A good back-up that shouldn't get starter money.

HBP - WP - E8

Wilson!

That sequence of scoring doomed the Texas Rangers yesterday.

With two outs in the second inning, Mike Trout lofted an easy liner to Endy Chavez in centerfield that he didn't close the mitt around and that was your ballgame, 1-0.

C.J. Wilson was great. He finished the complete game allowing just two hits and a walk. For the most part, he outdueled Jered Weaver, who was great too, but allowed seven hits and two walks. The Rangers offense had their chance against Weaver and simply failed. Wilson allowed one opportunity and due to a series of confounding plays.

You just pick yourself up, dust off the dirt and live to play another day.

Notes:
1. Of all teams, Weaver's faced the Rangers the most. He's 9-5 lifetime. The numbers: 150.2 IP - 139 hits - 59 runs - 15 HRs - 40 BBs - 126 Ks - 3.23 ERA - .242 BAA.

2. Wilson's allowed one home run in his last 65 innings.

3. Mitch Moreland's hitting .262.

4. The Angels had no starter with an average over .300 yesterday. And they're winning the West?

Real quick before we trade Derek Holland to the Nationals for a bucket of balls and a hot dog

Busters

Everyone needs to quit freaking the fuck out.

Somehow -- which is quite remarkable -- we never got as high about a 12-game win streak compared to as low as everyone's getting about one loss. The problem, friends, isn't the Texas Rangers. It's you.

Step away from the ledge. It'll be OK.

The Rangers blew a five-run lead midway through last night's 9-8 loss to the California Angels. The loss put a halt to the 12-game win streak. At some point earlier this month, a suicide pact was passed around and people immediately started talk of the apocalypse.

For one, the tragedy that took place earlier this month at the Ballpark needs to be a big reason we quit throwing the word "doom" out there after a fucking loss. That just makes you look retarded and like a complete asshole.

Two, the Rangers weren't going to go undefeated the rest of the season. They were going to lose and it was going to happen one of two ways: They were going to get beaten into the ground or tripped up in a blown pitching assignment.

Derek Holland battled. He didn't have great stuff and yet he went out there and continued to get outs. That first inning would've gotten anyone's goat. He wasn't getting many swings and misses and the Angels -- a veteran ballclub -- fouled off two dozen pitches and they worked walks. Add on a bloop barely-fair single by Vernon Wells and that might have made all the difference (well ... it did make all the difference -- in a three-run first and possible getting out of trouble.

It's a game. One game. and if the Rangers miss the AL West by a game, we can look at that game and the 70 others they will lose this season and wonder "what if?"

We all need to get a hold of ourselves.

The trade wheel in the sky keeps on turning

Ubaldo and Ogando, it has a ring to it

It's July 20 and the MLB trade deadline is a mere 11 days away.

If there's a rumor floating, our Texas Rangers are typically in the middle. Well, I should say any rumor involving a pitcher the Rangers are in the fray.

Right now, the Rangers are set for position players. From the fifth outfielder to the back-up catcher, the Rangers are set and could go into the post-season with what they've got.

Frankly, per the pitching, the Rangers are looking to shake things up too much. Mainly, a lot of the guys they are "in" on are longer-term solutions, meaning the Rangers would have control the player past this season. I think, more than anything, they don't want a Cliff Lee scenario where a touted trade chip walks after the season.

The usual suspects:

Ubaldo Jimenez
Many are surprised that Jimenez is even being rumored. The Rockies are not awful (although slightly out of contention as for the moment) and Jimenez is under contract through 2013 with a club option for 2014. His salaries: $4.2 million (2012), $5.75 million (2013) and $8 million (2014, club option). There are other incentives that will bump his pay, but nothing otherworldly. Essentially, he's 27 and super cheap. The Rockies' GM stated that he'd need a "Herschel Walker" type package to pry Jimenez from the team (sorry, Minnesota Vikings). That starts, for the Rangers, with Jurickson Profar and Martin Perez up front. Then add on another three or four organizational top 20. You can't get far with Matt Lawson and Josh Lueke. I'm going to be honest, this intrigues me.

Heath Bell
An old flame. A probable free agent, who walks into the eighth-inning role. He'll cost you for a guy that might walk.

Mike Adams
He'll be 33 by the time the deadline rolls around. He's put together an immaculate run as a set-up guy. He's arbitration eligible for next season and is probably going to get a raise. Meh. No one to overpay for.

Hiroki Kuroda
I've seen one report tying the Rangers to the 36-year-old Japanese import. He's consistent (.243, .243, .249 BAA the last three years). I think he's trouble. Japanese pitchers have a shelf life in this league. He's a back-of-the-rotation guy and the Rangers have plenty of them.

James Shields
A name that's been bandied about, however, I haven't seen the Rangers as suitors. He's turned in a brilliant bounceback year after two bad years in a row. I think he's a front-of-the-rotation guy, but not a No. 1. He's got club options the next three years. The Rays are a smart organization and if he's available, you have to wonder why.

Kerry Wood
It seems he's destined to be a Ranger at some point. Too many baserunners, wasted promise for my taste.

Tyler Clippard
Big 26-year-old righty pitching brilliantly for Washington with potential to be full-time closer? You kick the tires and see what you can do.

Craig Breslow
A lefty who can't get lefties (.400 BAA) out. It's a trap!

Twelve

"Your excited? You should feel my nipples!"

What do you want to read here? What statistical anomaly would you like to read about?

Evan Grant, Jeff Wilson and Jamey Newberg have all of those ridiculous numbers like the Rangers' ERA during their 12-game win streak. The number of wins and quality starts compared to the rest of the league. The Rangers' record with Josh Hamilton. Mike Napoli's catcher ERA. The Rangers having three sub-3.00 ERA starters. Alexi Ogando's top-10 ERA.

Frankly, it's gotten boring. The numbers don't lie. Ball don't lie. The Rangers are a tough out right now and if your team is in the way of the buzzsaw, just pray to scrap out a couple of runs and force the Rangers to eke it out. No one's hotter.

The streak was pushed to 12 as the Rangers beat the California Angels 7-0 behind eight scoreless from Ogando.

If I can talk a little about the Angels. For years, they were the cream of the crop in the AL West even though Seattle had its run in the early 2000s and the Athletics defied all logic with a few runs with Moneyball.

However, the Angels set the bar high. They spent a little, but still made heady moves acquiring guys like Scott Spiezio, Kevin Appier and Tim Salmon, and developing youngsters like Francisco Rodriguez, John Lackey, Scot Shields and Jarrod Washburn and letting those guys all go at the right time. They won a World Series with Adam Kennedy and David Eckstein up the middle.

The Angels were ridiculously good at putting together a team. The last four years or so, there's been a sea change. As far as how a team is constructed and the fiscal accountability, the Angels might be one of the most mediocre of teams.

They've thrown mad cash at Vernon Wells, Torii Hunter, Bobby Abreu and Gary Mathews Jr. and, relatively speaking, have struck out on all of them. Scott Kazmir was a bust. '

The youngsters that were supposed to carry this franchise into the next decade -- Erick Aybar, Howie Kendrick, Kendry Morales, Casey Kotchman, Brandon Wood -- have all either underwhelmed, gotten injured or turned into busts. Outside of Mike Trout, who on their team really gets your goat in terms of young players.

Jeff Weaver is great. No doubt. However, this is the same team that's attempted to spend like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox on players that both teams are not concerned in acquiring. Essentially, they're paying premium for second- and third-tier players.

It's the Rangers, instead, that have acquired Adrian Beltre, Cliff Lee, Bengie Molina and Mike Napoli. There is a reason that the Rangers are better right now. It's pretty clear.

It's go time

Wally World

The Texas Rangers have taken the last two weeks to completely quash the hopes and dreams of every fan of the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners.

Two four-game sweeps and the Athletics are 13 games out of first and the Mariners, 11.5. Neither are in the race any longer and I consider both to be out of the picture. They simply don't have good enough teams to keep up.

Next: The California Angels.

The Rangers and Angels begin a three-game set tonight in Los Angeles with the Angels a mere four games behind the Rangers for the division lead. It might be a one-game lead in four days or perhaps a seven-game lead. At worst, you hope the Ranger pick up or lose a game.

It's July. Not the end of the world for either team. A lot of baseball -- including seven games between the two in August -- to go.

Still, the Rangers can throw a massive punch the next three days. Just before playing seven at home. Make hay.

Wally Joyner, by the way: 2,060 hits, 409 doubles, 204 home runs. Never got more than 200 hits in a season, yet, had an extraordinary amount of extra-base hits.

Nolan Ryan hospitalized

Seen better days

The man who had a huge hand in turning around the prospects of the Texas Rangers isn't feeling so swell.

Team president Nolan Ryan was hospitalized due to "discomfort" in his Georgetown home. He's still in the hospital and will be there for another couple of days.

Ryan's 64-year-old arteries, frankly, are probably clogged to the hilt. All that fucking red meat and grilling 30,000 hot dogs.

Here's hoping the big guy gets well soon. Eats a few more vegetables.

Texas Rangers baseball

Good times

Make that 11 straight wins and two straight series sweeps for the Texas Rangers, who are suddenly rounding into their 2010 form.

They held the Seattle Mariners to two total runs in four games throwing shutouts the first two games and allowing a run apiece the final two games. They did this facing some pretty good pitchers including getting to Felix Hernandez Saturday night, clipping Doug Fister Friday and seeing old friend Blake Beavan Sunday.

Not like the Rangers were flying high. Most of the games were close at some point only pulling away late Saturday night and nursing a 3-1 win against Beavan yesterday.

This isn't just an 11-game winning streak. It's Texas Rangers baseball. As Ron Washington would say, it's the way baseball go.

It's fantastic pitching (from every starter), superb late-inning relief work (when needed, of course), brilliant hitting, stellar defense and insane, ears-pinned-back baserunning.

The Rangers won 14 straight games in 1991. They finished 85-77 and third in their division, missing the playoffs. I would bet, without remembering or looking, that that 14-game streak was filled with haphazard play and quite a bit of luck. This streak is calculated and precise.

Yes, it's against bad teams with awful offenses, but the Rangers do not pick their opponents. This is dominance and this is the Texas Rangers pulling away and showing that they are one of the top two or three teams in the American League.

I was watching Saturday's game at a party and someone said that they thought the "Rangers should've kept Cliff Lee."

Yes, Cliff Lee, somehow, is still a good pitcher. He'll be good next year too. That doesn't change the fact that A) Cliff Lee and his wife didn't want to be in North Texas; B) that the Rangers aren't an ATM machine; and C) the Rangers aren't looking to win for another year, but another 10.

I hear other rumors and talk of the Rangers looking for a starting pitcher, possibly emptying the piggy bank for a guy like Hernandez (which by all accounts is completely off the table to begin with). I'd counter with "What's wrong with the guys we got?"

If you traded for another starting pitcher, who goes? Who do you send down or expel to the bullpen? Derek Holland and his scoreless streak? Colby Lewis, the horse? Matty Harrison and his 2.91 ERA? The All-Stars C.J. Wilson or Alexi Ogando?

I'll grant you that Holland has been inconsistent as has room for improvement. Lewis isn't always sharp and Ogando's pitched more innings than he has in his entire career.

However, the Rangers are an organization with class and loyalty. They'll stick by guys until the bitter end and they'll definitely not bump someone for the sake of bumping someone. This team we're watching isn't the 2011 Texas Rangers. It's the 2012 Texas Rangers. And the 2013 Texas Rangers. And the 2014 Texas Rangers.

Guys will come and guys will go along the way. I'll never be static and GM Jon Daniels will always look to make a deal and they'll always look to win games. Unlike its fandom, the Rangers are a team of nuance and patience. Thankfully.

Call him the streak

Slingin' it: Holland in a complete game

I guess Derek Holland's staved off expulsion to the bullpen and the Scooter Feldman express for another start.

Holland tossed his second straight complete game shutout last night, dominating the Seattle Mariners 5-0 last night to give the second half of the MLB season a proper welcome.

Since getting just two outs against Florida July 2, here's Holland's damage:

18 IP - 9 hits - 0 runs - 3 BBs - 15 Ks.

That is what you might call strong to quite strong. Any talk of it being "against the Oakland Athletics" or "against the Seattle Mariners" is a moot point. Blanking the A's is one thing. Doing it two straight games is another.

What the Rangers want most is not to have to make a decision. Throwing complete games or going less than an inning during a start makes the Rangers' decisions easy. It's allowing 12 hits in six innings that drives you more crazy. You want him to be good or bad so you know what you've got.

Of Holland's 19 starts, 13 have come against marginal to bad teams, meaning, squads that are at .500 or below. He's 6-2 with five no-decisions against those bad teams. Of those five no-decisions, I'd say he pitched well in three. If Holland can beat the bad teams, there is zero reason to worry about the kid. Frankly, most teams you face in the regular season are marginally bad to awful. Joe Torre always preached during his time with the New York Yankees beating the bad teams and holding your own against the good ones. Whipping the bad teams gets you 95-105 wins a year.

Right now, the Rangers are whipping the bad teams. They've won eight straight and are 9-2 in July. Remember, it was June 2010 that put the Rangers out front of the AL West.

Also, dating back to their last series, the Rangers haven't allowed a run in 20 straight innings and have tossed two straight shutouts. The Rangers' bullpen have throw 20 total pitches since Saturday night. They've had two complete games (both Holland) and three shutouts since Josh Hamilton parked that walk-off homer into the upper deck last Saturday. Amazing.

Notes:
1. If Mike Napoli gets a day off, I'll be shocked. He's got three doubles, three homers, nine RBI and a stolen base (for kicks) since returning from the DL.

2. However, the hottest bat is Elvis Andrus: 12 hits in six games.

3. Well, Mike Young has 15 hits in his last nine. He's 34 hits from 2,000. And with 60 RBI, he's driven in more runs than Nellie Cruz and Josh Hamilton.

4. Jason Vargas, who's been good this year, had to be frustrated. I didn't think he was bad last night. A couple of mistakes and the Rangers batters worked him over. He threw 106 pitches in six innings allowing all five runs. He never had the offense supporting him.

5. Last 18 innings for Rangers pitching: No extra-base hits.

6. If Miguel Olivo is your clean-up hitter, you're in deep shit.

ESPN snipes another pair of DMNers

No one's safe.

Apparently, long-time writer and columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor and senior writer Sam Gwynne are leaving The Dallas Morning News and going over to ESPN Dallas. Basically, the World Wide Leader's Dallas contingent is the Triple A affiliate of the News having hired Calvin Watkins, Richard Durrett and Tim McMahon.

Gwynne, frankly, was a ghost. I never noticed his byline and he apparently wrote a couple of pieces and largely shared bylines. He won't be missed.

And, I'll be honest, no one is going to miss JJT from Dallas' only daily newspaper.

Taylor is the worst sports columnist The Dallas Morning News has ever paid, and this is the same outlet that pays Tim Cowlishaw.

If you wanted half-hearted, half-assed thoughts on sports and athletes, you could turn to Taylor to give you 1,000 words of drivel that didn't say anything and was devoid of any real emotion and opinion. Taylor tried to assume the role of Kevin Blackistone and those were shoes Taylor was never up to even trying. I was often floored after reading Taylor's columns in disbelief that he gets paid probably a nice paycheck to say absolutely nothing.

Both guys -- especially Taylor -- can easily be replaced. Will it be internal or external?

Five names for the second half

Kinsler, the natural

The Texas Rangers' second half begins tonight against Seattle.

I debated how to address expectations for their second half. Would it be generic points or highlighting specific players?

I really got to thinking about our Rangers. Listening to people on the radio and reading things online, people are really finding dumbass shit to catch the Rangers on. Frankly, if the Rangers play the second half like the first half, they'll win the division.

Seems like the Rangers have gotten more criticism for their television commercials than they have for their play on the field.

The Rangers do need to starting crossing the Ts and dotting the Is. A little nip and tuck around the edges and the Rangers might round into a better ballclub than they were a year ago.

Five people:

Mark Lowe
The Rangers bullpen needs definition. If you want to add an arm, fine. However, by September we need some consistency and some roles made. Arthur Rhodes needs to never face a right-handed batter. Neftali Feliz should never be in a non-save situation. And Mark Lowe needs to be this team's eighth-inning guy or something like it. Him pitching in an 8-4 win or loss in the eighth inning doesn't make sense. Someone -- anyone! -- needs to be able to come, get outs and close out a game, win or lose. Lowe, Feliz, Darren Oliver and Tommy Hunter shouldn't be wasted on "blowouts" or non-saves. Maybe that's what Scott Feldman is for or maybe that's what the Rangers need to figure out.

Derek Holland
I have trust and confidence in the rest of the rotation. Holland needs to take the next three months to prove himself, that he belongs. Holland's development means a lot. Holland's development gives you the division.

Josh Hamilton
Considering his run before the All-Star break after his injury, I think Hamilton's a bomb about to explode. Hamilton's absence spoke volumes. That line-up was not the same without him, it doesn't matter who you replace him with.

Ian Kinsler
I think Kinsler spent the last month and a half rounding into one of the best lead-off hitters in baseball. The batting average was not always there (although .340 in July, so far), but he was hitting the ball well and getting on base at a astounding rate. The only dip in his game is average. That's it. His defense is smart. His power is there, he's stealing bases and getting on. Kinsler, like Hamilton, could take the second half of the season by storm and make everyone in the league take notice.

Mitch Moreland
Quite the opposite of Kinsler, I feel like Moreland's lost a little edge to his at-bats. Once putting up spectacular at-bat after spectacular at-bat. He was getting walked, he was forcing the pitcher to make mistakes and he was planting balls around the ballpark. Lately, I feel his gusto at working pitchers to death at the plate has waned. Accordingly, he has five walks and 23 strikeouts in June and July. I need Moreland back. I need a rebound August and September from The Bitch.

Deion Sanders is worried about Dez Bryant, Dez Bryant is not worried about Dez Bryant

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

With the NFL lockout continuing, just about anything will make a headline.

However, this is probably a huge red flag for fans of the Dallas Cowboys.

Former cornerback and constant loudmouth Deion Sanders was interviewed the other day on an Atlanta radio station and he talked about Dez Bryant.

"I think the Dallas Cowboys are more concerned than I am," Sanders said.

Last season, Sanders cut off his mentoring ways from the Cowboys' rookie receiver unexpectantly midseason. No reason was given. Of course, Bryant missed most of his senior year at Oklahoma State for lying to the NCAA about his relationship with Sanders.

Then, the wheel turned some more when this spring Bryant was chased out of NorthPark Mall in Dallas for sagging and then a host of business owners came out of the woodworks claiming Bryant owes them money for goods, services.

Why is this all concerning considering Sanders is a loudmouth. Mostly because he has nothing to gain with this. Sanders clearly knows a lot more than we do and probably a lot more than the Cowboys know (although, do not be fooled ... the Cowboys know a lot). Frankly, considering his history, Sanders probably knows a bad seed when he sees one.

Dez has spoken out. He said that there's no need to worry.

All I know, as a parent, when the kids are no longer making any noise, you know there's something wrong.

The curious case of Scooter Feldman

Welcome back, we think

Yesterday, news came down that the Texas Rangers had put pitcher Scott Feldman (on the 40-man, in Triple A rehabbing) on waivers. Meaning, any team could scoop him up if they were willing to pay him the rest of the $9 million he's due this year and next.

A steep check for a guy that bombed last year and hadn't thrown in the Majors this year. Chances are, he was going to go through waivers, be taken off the 40-man and put in the minors for the possibility of being recalled later, when the Rangers needed him.

Hours later, T.R. Sullivan blogged that Feldman was going to activated today. Like, on the team, taken off the 60-day disabled list and potentially pitching tonight, in relief. Sullivan briefly addresses the waivers story and brushes it off like it was a rumor.

Read this story. It's clear that I have no concept of "waivers," "outrighted" and all that jazz. It states that he was put on waivers (although the author refers to it almost as a rumor), but that he can still join the Rangers or outrighted to Triple A, where he could opt to become a free agent and still get paid by the Rangers. Weird. Clearly, no one was going to snatch him off waivers and the Rangers are not going to outright him (without knowing he'd accept the assignment). It's thought that Yoshi Tateyama will be sent to Triple A to make room for Feldman.

It's not that I don't understand, I just don't see the point. Just take Feldman off the disable list and send Tateyama down.

There's something to all of this and I'm far too lazy to research or really give a shit. Go Rangers.

Michael Irvin is super gay, along with space

Space

Michael Irvin is featured on the latest edition of Out magazine, one that primarily focuses on homosexual issues and whatnot.

Apparently, one of his 800 brothers is homosexual and he intimates that maybe seeing his sibling act on these behaviors and Irvin's notions on homosexuality fueled the ex-Cowboys' philandering ways. Sounds like a cop out. But whatever.

I think this is a good thing. Sorta. I think it's good that an outspoken, well-known African American athlete agreed to do the story, discuss homosexual issues from a heterosexual point of view. There are obvious issues in this country dealing with sexual orientation. This is also a country that waits for other people to say when something is OK. Maybe we can all chill the fuck out a little more.

My problem -- and this is my opinion, clearly -- is the cover. Irvin is shirtless and clearly Photoshopped. He is oiled up. His left thumb is pulling on a belt loop of his pants showing a pair of black boxer briefs. He's also, oddly, wearing a pair of smallish shoulder pads that look like Red Grange might have donned them in the early 20th century.

Out knew it was going to make national headlines with this story and cover. Occasionally, the magazine will make headlines based on an exclusive story. But it's rare. To me, Out -- and, whether its fair or unfair, the gay community -- is telling everyone that all the preconceived notions that heterosexuals have about homosexuals are ALL TRUE.

Out had a prime opportunity, I think, to present Irvin and their perception of a good-looking, fit former athlete in a sexual manner that didn't look like an ad in the back of the Dallas Observer.

I'll say this, if Vanity Fair or GQ ran this same exact cover and it was about Irvin's thoughts on homosexuality, they'd be ridiculed by the homosexual community.

With that said, I'll step away from this bear trap and move along.

I present to you the Dave Bush All-Stars

Godspeed, Dave Bush

In the biggest "who cares?" moment of the first half of the Texas Rangers' 2011 season, the Rangers waived pitcher Dave Bush and promoted the rehabbing Tommy Hunter. It happened just a few weeks ago.

Bush had been used rather regularly this season. He made one start. Otherwise, he played some mop-up time and came on in long relief. Generally, he sucked.

Bush is just another cog in the long history of pitchers the Rangers acquired hoping (praying!) that there's a little bit of magic left in that arm.

These pitchers typically are older (Bush was 31), but not too old. They typically have had some modicum of success, although they were typically never superstars or considered "extremely good." Otherwise the team would never get rid of them.

These are the Dave Bush All-Stars. And they never turn out good for the Rangers.

The Rangers had a bumrush of Dave Bush All-Stars. Not only did they name the team's namesake, they signed Seth McClung (30) and Brett Tomko (38, two-time 13-game winner). In fact, this team should be called the Brett Tomko All-Stars, but Dave Bush has a certain ring to it.
Here are 10 members of the Dave Bush All-Star team (note: It's just pitchers. So, don't kick my nuts in, OK?).

Sidney Ponson
In 2003, Ponson won 14 games for the Baltimore Orioles before getting traded to San Francisco. He played for three other teams before the Rangers took a flyer on him in 2008 at age 31. He was not bad. He went 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA. Did the Rangers find a diamond in need of a mere polishing? Hardly. The lush was seen getting hammered before a start and had post-game words with Ian Kinsler. At the time, the Rangers could've used Ponson. Being jettisoned spoke volumes about his effect on the team.

Scott Erickson
The once hotshot pitching prospect won 20 for the Minnesota Twins at age 23. Years later, he'd win 60 games in four years with Baltimore. In 2004, the 36-year-old was traded by the Mets to the Rangers. The magic was gone. He went 1-3 with a 6.16 ERA in Texas.

Bruce Hurst
Hurst was a nice back-of-the-rotation starter for the Red Sox and Padres for years. He had double-digit wins for 10 straight years peaking with 18 in 1988. In 1994, at 36, Hurst was all but washed up. His final year was in Texas. He posted a 7.11 ERA in eight games.

Danny Darwin
Darwin was originally drafted by the Texas Rangers. Spent his first seven years as a Ranger and was never bad. That's generally the bulk of his career. His ERA rarely tipped over 4.00, but he never won many games (3.84 career ERA, 171-182 W/L). He'd start 20 games and then spend the next year in the bullpen. A useful guy. Darwin rejoined the Rangers at 39 in 1995 and posted a 7.15 ERA in seven games.

Kris Benson
Nobody aged quicker in MLB than Benson. Maybe it was the wife. Maybe it was the years of disappointment. He was one of about 1,000 pitchers the last 20 years that sunk the Pittsburgh franchise with the spark of promise and the lead weight of inferior play. Benson never really had a lot of successful before the Rangers threw a contract at him in 2009. The 34-year-old won the No. 5 spot in the rotation, a seeming placeholder for the kids coming up in the minors. Benson did not disappoint. Or he did disappoint. Depending on your thoughts on him. Appeared in eight games and posted a 8.46 ERA.

Pedro Astacio
Geesh. The 2000s were a very dark period for the Rangers. Astacio had just won 17 games for Colorado. At best for the Rangers, he'd eat up some innings. Instead, he was 2-8 with a 6.04 ERA and a remarkable 13 home runs in 67 innings.

Dennis Boyd
Texas was a nice place to close out a career. The man known as "Oil Can" never played another Major League game at 31 with his tenure ending in Texas. He'd put together three unspectacularly good years in Boston. By the time the Rangers acquired him, he was washed up. A 6.68 ERA in 12 starts for the Rangers. My dad still can't believe they signed someone named "Oil Can."

Craig Lefferts/Mike Schooler/Greg Cadaret
Three moustaches. Three 1980s Topps baseball card icons. Lefferts actually started eight games for the Rangers in 1993. His ERA was over 6.00. Schooler's career was surprisingly short and ended in Texas. His ERA was 5.55. Cadaret was a marginal reliever to begin with. He fared the best with a 4.70 ERA.

Jason Jennings
If it wasn't the Dave Bush All-Stars, it'd be the Jason Jennings All-Stars. The Rangers fucking sold Jennings to the fans. They didn't sell Darwin, Benson, Astacio or Schooler. Those were just names, bodies to put on the 25-man roster. Maybe they eat some innings. Maybe you get lucky and they're half decent. No. Jennings was different. For one, he was local. Naturally, he was going to pitch better in front of his friends and family. Two, the Colorado altitude had killed his ERA over the years, despite winning 16 games for the Rockies. He was healthy and hungry. Instead, Jennings pitched in six games and posted a 8.56 ERA in 2008. The Rangers were not done. In 2009, Jennings was really healthy and ready to pitch for Rangers. The Rangers re-signed him. He wasn't the worst ever. He pitched in 44 games and posted a 4.13 ERA. Still, he was costing $5 million a year and he couldn't be trusted.

Rick Honeycutt
The wiley lefty had a long and solid career as a starter and then as a reliever. He spent three seasons in the 1980s with the Rangers and was pretty good. Afterwards, he transitioned to the bullpen. The Rangers brought him back in 1994. He pitched in 42 games and had a 7.20 ERA as a lefty specialist.

Other Dave Bush All-Stars:
Bruce Chen, Kip Wells, Bryan Corey, Adam Eaton, James Baldwin, Mickey Callaway, Esteban Yan, C.J. Nitkowski, Todd Van Poppel, John Rocker, Jeff Fassero, Scott Bailes, Tony Fossas, Terry Clark, Floyd Bannister.